Bell pledges England support for gay Davies

England wicketkeeper Steven Davies will have the full support of his team-mates after publicly announcing he is gay, batsman Ian Bell told reporters on Monday.

Surrey gloveman Davies, 24, is believed to be the first active professional cricketer to out himself and he explained why to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper by saying: "I just felt it was the right time for me.

"It's something that I've obviously wanted to do for a long time. I've probably been comfortable with it now for a couple of years.

"The reason why I've decided to make it public is simply because I think the more people who do it, the more acceptable it becomes."

Davies, who was a member of England's victorious Ashes squad but did not play in the Tests, said he decided to reveal his sexuality to his team-mates before the tour of Australia and received the full support of his colleagues.

He was in England's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup but did not make the cut.

"To speak out is a massive relief for me, but if I can just help one person to deal with their sexuality then that's all I care about," Davies said.

Bell, talking to reporters at England's hotel in Bangalore the morning after their dramatic tie with joint hosts India, said Davies had a "massive future in English cricket" and that was all that mattered.

"We knew before the Ashes series," Bell said of Davies's sexuality.

"That didn't change anything for us. He is a very popular guy in our team, a good mate of mine and that doesn't change absolutely anything.

"He went to (England coach) Andy Flower first and then it came to the group. I don't think it had any effect on any of the guys. We all supported him through the tour which could have been very difficult.

Flower insisted: "Steve's private life is his own concern.

"It has absolutely no bearing on his ability to excel at the very highest level in international sport."

Davies, who said he told his family five years ago, revealed he was partly inspired to make the announcement by Wales rugby union international Gareth Thomas, who went public about his homosexuality in 2009.

Left-handed batsman Davies made his international debut in a Twenty20 match against the West Indies in March 2009, playing his first one-day international against Australia later that year.